Present at the ceremony were UN Secretary General Kofi Anna, French President Jacques Chirac and Francophone Secretary General Abdou Diouf.

Christine Hemmet who is in charge of Asian heritages at the museum said Vietnam is one of the nations having the largest number of exhibits at the museum. More than 100 Vietnamese artefacts were displayed scientifically, attracting great attention from visitors. Ms Hemmet said through artefacts, French and other foreign visitors would have a better understanding of Vietnam’s unique culture and civilisation.

Also on display were artefacts of Central Highlanders, which had been collected by French ethnologist Georges Condominas.